National Executive Committee

National Committee

James Scott

President

I have undertaken university and industry-based research from New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands, to the Pacific Islands, to central Europe. My research involves examination of processes from the shallow Earth, to the evolution of Earth’s mantle, to the formation of the solar nebula. This research is achieved through combinations of fieldwork, microscopic analysis (e.g., scanning electron beam analysis and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), and the acquisition of stable and radiogenic isotopes (C, O, Sr, Nd, Pb, Mg and Os).

Katherine Holt

Vice President

Alan Orpin

Treasurer

I have been a member of the Society since the early 90's as a student and I'm the current Treasurer of the GSNZ, based at NIWA Wellington. My current research is primarily focused on post-glacial marine dispersal and depositional events on continental shelves, slopes and basins. Collaborative research within active research programmes includes the application of detailed analysis of sediment cores, event chronology, and paleoseismology, all of which use high resolution seismic, multibeam bathymetry and backscatter, and sedimentary physical properties. This work embraces a range of environmental drivers for sedimentary processes including climate, tectonics, volcanism, and human-induced land-use change. In addition, my research and commercial activities are ongoing into techniques for seafloor characterization and quantifying sediment dispersal.

Richard Wysoczanki

Secretary

Richard is the current Secretary of the Geosciences Society of New Zealand. He is a Principal Scientist and Group Manager of the Ocean Geology Group at the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, and is based in Wellington. He is a petrologist/geochemist by training but also dabbles in geochronology and trace metal ecotoxicity, as well as various aspects of ocean science, particularly volcanology and environmental science. He obtained his PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, and has held various professional positions in New Zealand, Australia, the US and Japan, before becoming a part of the NIWA furniture in Wellington.

Jennifer Eccles

Immediate Past President

Immediate Past President of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand and Auckland Branch Representative. Geophysicist at the School of Environment, University of Auckland

Glenn Vallender

Newsletter Editor

Specialised in Geological science education.

Sam McColl

Publications Sales

I'm a Senior Lecturer at Massey University in the Geosciences Group. My research as a geomorphologist focuses on hillslope and alpine landscape processes, evolution, and hazards. On the GSNZ national committee I have responsibilities for the sales and distribution of the GSNZ publications.

Matt Sagar

Publications Convenor

Nicki Sayers

Administrator

Nicki has been the GSNZ Administrator since October 2018. In addition she works three days a week for Victoria University of Wellington in the Development Office. She has nearly 20 year's experience working in the non-profit sector and has philanthropic research, administration, marketing and communications experience. Nicki is the first point of contact for all member enquiries.

Andrew Rees

Member

I am a paleoecologist who uses biotic and abiotic proxies preserved in lake sediments to reconstruct past environments. My particular expertise is with the Chironomidae (Class: Insecta, Order: Diptera): non-biting midges who's lifecycle is highly dependent on temperature. I am particularly interested in using paleoecology to understand both water quality over the last millenium in New Zealand and the events that characterise the last deglaciation (~20 to 10 thousand years ago) in Australasia, generally.

Alex Nichols

Member

Lecturer in petrology at the University of Canterbury. My research focuses on the geochemistry of volcanic rocks, in particular, the role volatiles play in magmatic processes from source to eruption. I use a variety of in-situ micro-analytical techniques (e.g., electron microprobe, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) to analyse silicate glass and minerals.

Phaedra Upton

Member

Senior Scientist and Team Leader of the Geodynamics Team at GNS Science. Main areas of research: Tectonic geomorphology and Geodynamics. Favourite tectonic setting: Collisional mountain belts especially the Southern Alps and Himalaya. Member of the GSNZ National Committee

El Mestel

Member

A PhD researcher looking at the seismicity of Taupō volcano as part of the ECLIPSE project at Victoria University of Wellington.

Angela Griffin

Member

Angela Griffin is a geologist in the Basin Analysis Team at GNS Science. She holds a BSc and an MSc in earth sciences and geography from the University of Waikato. Angela has interests in geophysical log analysis, including borehole image log processing and interpretation, and well data, subsurface stress and fracture analysis. She has also been involved in outreach activities, liquefaction and CO2 sequestration studies, and projects involving reservoir, seal, and source rock distributions.

Andrew La Croix

Member

Andrew has been a co-opted member of the GSNZ National Committee since 2020. He is a Lecturer in Sedimentary Geology at the University of Waikato. Andrew is originally from Canada, and arrived in New Zealand in 2019 after living and working in Brisbane as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Andrew is keen about geological field work, as well as science education and communication. In his spare time he likes to swim, hike, and spend time with his family.

Jenni Hopkins

Member

Jenni is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who currently works and teaches at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). She completed her PhD in 2015 working on volcanism and tephrochronology in the Auckland Volcanic Field. Since graduating, Jenni has worked with colleagues at; GNS, NIWA, DEVORA, Auckland University, Waikato University and VUW on various volcanological projects focusing on tephra and cryptotephra research.

Administrator:
Nicki Sayers

Media enquiries:
President@gsnz.org.nz

Geoscience Society of New Zealand
PO Box 7003
Newtown
Wellington 6242

The GSNZ is a member organisation of the Royal Society
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New Zealand Geoscience

National Committee

James Scott

Katherine Holt

Alan Orpin

Richard Wysoczanki

Jennifer Eccles

Glenn Vallender

Sam McColl

Matt Sagar

Nicki Sayers

Andrew Rees

Alex Nichols

Phaedra Upton

El Mestel

Angela Griffin

Andrew La Croix

Jenni Hopkins